~Hao's pov~
"AH!!!! HAO-SAMA!!!!!"
"THERE'S HAO-SAMA!!!!!!!!!"
"HE'S SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAO-SAMA'S LOOKING AT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I heard screams everywhere, but I ignored them as I look around, but Ayame wasn't there. But then again, she never said she'll come so I can't expect anything as I focus onto game.
~Your pov~
"Thank you, Ayame, you can go now. You've been a life saver."
Your gym teacher said after you help her put the equipment back into the equipment room. You bowed slightly before heading back towards the school after being dismissed. "I'm late. You whispered in your head as you started to walk faster and faster. Half way, you suddenly heard something as you stopped and look around. Theres no one around, so you thought it was just your imagination as you continue walking.
Chirp chirp
Meow
"Eh?"
You whispered, clearly recognizing the sound of a neko and a dori. Following the sound, you walk over towards the bushes. Peeling the leaves apart, you gasped as you saw the neko, pressing its paw against the ground harder with the poor, newly born dori underneath, squirming and crying.
"Y-Yamede kudasai!"
You shouted softly as you ran over, scaring the neko away as you quickly picked the poor dori into your palm.
"Are you alright?"
You whispered, noticing it shaking in fear as it rest in your palm. Luckily, you didn't see any damage on it. "Are you hungry?" You asked softly as you put your finger above the doris beak. Quickly seeing your finger, it parted its beak widely, waiting to be fed as you smiled. "I thought so." Looking around the soft soil, you picked up a twig as you started digging on the ground until you found an earth worm. With a leaf, you wipe the dirt on the worm off as you snap the twig into parts. Using the thinnest twigs, you pick them up like a chopstick and pick up the worm. Raising it over the doris head again, it parted its beaks as you stuff the worm carefully down its throat as it swallowed the worm and chirped more.
Knowing that its nest must be somewhere near here, you started looking around branches hanging on the tree, trying to spot a nest. After a while, you found one, at the very top of the tree to your right.
'This must be the one seeing how it's the only bird nest in this area....'
You told yourself as you look around for anyone. Seeing no one here, you turn back to the tree. Holding the dori close to you with your left hand, you lift your right hand to grasp the lowest branch.
'It's a good thing I like to climb trees when I was young.'
You thought as you tried to remember how you use to climb. Steadily, you dash to towards the stock of the tree. Stepping your right foot against the bark, you use both your foot and your arm to thrust yourself upward as you landed on the lowest branch you were grasping on. After that, you look for the next branch as you grasp it, then to the next.
After climbing here and there, you finally reached the highest point of the tree as you look down and shivered. The tree never looked so high before and to tell the truth, you were scared. Alert, you started look around the sky, then to the nest to see if the dori's mother is there. You knew that if the mother saw you approaching the nest or notice that its nest has been moved, she will abandon her children along with the nest and go fine a new home.
When you couldn't fine any sight of bird flying in the air, you sighed in relieve as you look at the nest to see three little dori chirping around and rubbing against each other for warmth. Carefully walking on the branch while holding onto another branch next to you for support, you look up to see the nest right in front of you on another branch. Gently and carefully, with the dori sitting in your palm, you stretch your hand out, trying to put it back into the nest. Just when you're about an inch away, the dori suddenly leap off your palm as you gasped. Quickly jumping off the branch, you grabbed the dori and quickly spun back to grasp another branch. Yelping in pain, you felt the rough surface of the branch slide against your skin, the same hot feeling you get when you had a paper cut. When you stopped falling, you sighed in relieve as your heart skipped a beat. Looking up, you notice that you're just below the nest. Ignoring the great pain from your palm, you held onto the branch tighter, determine to get the dori back home.
'O-Onegai.....'
You pledged in your mind as you wrap your fingers around the dori, securing it as you stretch your arm above your head, trying to reach the nest once again.
Crack
Gasping, you quickly look to see the branch you're holding on snapping as you became really desperate. You could feel yourself slowly descending as you look at the tree trunk in front of you. Carefulling swinging your body a bit, you manage to attach your foot against the bark. Taking a deep breath, you gave a hard swing, causing the branch to snap in two as your feet touched the trunk. With all your strenght, you kick off the trunk, allowing you to fly upwards as you quickly stretch your hand out to place the dori into its nest with its siblings who welcomed it with a snuggle.
However, you didn't have time to feel happy for it as you started to feel yourself falling, being pulled down by gravity.
"Ah!!!!"
~Hao's pov~
It's the second half of the game now and I was sitting on the bench, resting and taking a drink as I look at the scores. It's 24 to 27 and we're in the lead. I don't know why I still bother, but I did, as my eyes roam around the gym look around for Ayame while ignoring the screams and cheers of the girls.
"Hao! We're up!"
I heard as I notice the second round has started as I took the towel off and threw it aside as I walk up to the field.
"We're counting on you, Hao!"
One of my teammate shouted as he patted my shoulder. "Ah." I merely replied as we all took our position as I watch a member from the other team dribbling the basket ball and passing back and forth. 'My arm is too worn out from the first round.' I thought as I look at my right arm from the corner of my eyes, then quickly focus back on the game, trying to ignore the immense pain.
~Your pov~
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"I-Itai...."
You whispered softly as you slowly open your eyes to find yourself lying on the ground. At first, you were stunned but quickly shot up as you remembered the dori and game. Looking up, you smiled as you saw the shadow of a larger dori, which you assume as the mother, sitting on the nest. Forgeting about your injured palm, you place your palms against the ground in attempt to push yourself up.
"A-Ah!!"
You gasped, looking at your palm to see blood oozing out from the large cut. But luckily, the wound wasn't deep. Sliding your other hand into your pocket, you pull out the ticket Hao gave you, but winced as you felt your entire body breaking down. You could feel pain everywhere. You could feel slight pain on your cheek with warm liquid sliding down your pale skind along with a collection of bruises.
Rest in result
~Later~
After cleaning yourself up in the bathroom and having your wound bandaged by the nurse, you headed towards the gym. Handing in your ticket to the staff that stood by the door, you walk in to see the crowd cheering and roaring as you squeeze through some people to get a better view. The place was very crowded, but you manage to get past as you found the reason why the crowd was so excited. Right now, Hao was running across the court, dribbling the basketball with his left hand as he dash past the opponents and straight to the net. Though other people may not notice, you saw pain in Hao's eyes, though he did very well to conceal it as he ran. He was sweating hard, but he wasn't sweating because of the game; he was sweating from pain. Looking at the scores, it was 31 all and there are only five more minutes.
'He must have really pushed himself.'
You thought as you watch him dash back and forth, then made a pose to shoot the ball into the basket. However, that moment, one of the boy from the other team quickly dash right towards Hao just when he's about to shoot and tackled him on purpose as your eyes widened while the entire gym became silent. That boy tackled Hao right where he was injured as Hao crashed onto the ground and landed harshly as he winced. The referee quickly blew the whistle as all of the boys on Hao's team ran over while the boys from the other school cheered and did a high-five.
"Hao.....!"
You blindly called out and since the entire place was quiet, your voice came out clearly as everyone look at you, but you ignored them as you quickly ran over and knelt down beside Hao. "H-Hao, daijobu?" You asked with worries as you gently help Hao to sit up as he panted heavily.
"Number 11, you're disqualified!"
The referee called as you turn to that boy who merely smirked and sat down on the bench, doing another high-five to his teammate. "Hn...I should ask you that." Hao whispered softly as you look at him to see him staring at you with one eye. His other eye was shut tightly to ease the pain as he forced out a smile.
"....E-Eh?"
You whispered as Hao gently reach his hand out and touch the bandage on your cheek.
"W-Watashi wa daijubo.....demo anata no ke-"
"If you're alright, so am I."
Hao replied as he tries to stand up while holding onto his right arm as you quickly help him balance along with the others. Turning to the referee, Hao gave him a slight nod as the referee blew his whistle. By now, everyone's eyes were on Hao. Quickly standing aside, you watched as Hao's teammate crowded around him as they walk back onto the court while the crowd roared, welcoming Hao back and glad that he's safe. However, you know that after today, you'll be hated by the girls and would have rumors about you spreading everywhere.
Right now, every girl in the gym here were too busy glaring at you than watching the game.
That moment, you notice Team Flower there there, holding some pompoms and were glaring at you, making you flinch, but manage to avoid eye contact and focus on the game. Because the boy broke the rule by tackling Hao when he's about to shoot for a 3 points, Hao get 3 free shots. However, because of his arm, Hao missed once, gaining only 2 points.
